These kid-favorite, nutritious chicken nuggets are made with ground chicken, giving them a crispy exterior and a juicy center. They’re even better than fast food, with hidden veggies included!
Best Crispy Chicken Nuggets
To extend the choice for my nieces, especially the more picky ones, we tried to make homemade chicken nuggets imitating nuggets from McDonalds, and the result was great! These nuggets incorporate ground chicken, frozen cauliflower rice, and some spices that can be blended with the chicken; the nuggets are breaded and then baked or air fried. Although it takes slightly longer than in the case of large pieces of chicken, it is really very effective!
Double the recipe and use the additional nuggets to freeze for a much healthier store bought nugget substitute that is made at home and perfect for packing for your child’s lunch.
Health Benefits of This chicken nuggets
As for chicken nuggets, this food can be regarded as the discover of the year for busy families! It is very easy to prepare, takes not more than half an hour to cook, and is loved by the fussiest of kids.
Healthier Homemade Nuggets
Moreover, most of these foods can be prepared at home to be healthier than the foods one tends to get at fast-food joints. Secretly you can add in the veggies, use lean ground chicken, and choose the components of the meal.
Kid-Friendly and Fun to Eat
They are excellent to be used with dips, so children love them. The soft interior with a crunchy exterior is the kind that no one can resist.
Homemade Nuggets Beat Fast Food
Say goodbye to fast food nuggets. The homemade nuggets are here to give fast foods a run for their money.
What Do We Have In These Mouth-Watering Chicken Nuggets?
Few people may be wondering what makes homemade chicken nuggets so special. Here’s the scoop:
The sausage meat for this recipe was 93% ground chicken; this was a combination of chicken thighs and the breast. This combo keeps the nuggets juicy, as opposed to using ground chicken breast , which may be a tad dry. If you’re into skinless chicken breast, use the following recipe, which is slightly different from the previous one.
Frozen cauliflower rice is a smart inclusion, making these nuggets more nutritious and lighter while also boosting the flavor and texture.
This is made from salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper to give the best flavor.
Use, for example, one egg in the shallow bowl to create an egg coating for the chicken meat.
Give your nuggets a crunchy coat by dipping them in plain seasoning or gluten-free crumbs of your choice.
Steps to Create a Delicious Chicken Nuggets
In a large bowl add the chicken along with the cauliflower rice, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper, stirring about. Shape into 30 round flat nuggets each of 25 grams of weight.
Put the egg in one bowl and the breadcrumbed in the other bowl. Nuggets need to be dipped in the egg mixture, and then in the breadcrumbs and should be placed in a separate plate to rest.
Baked:
If baking, arrange it on the baking sheet with the help of oil for greasing the sheet. Then preheat the oven and then lightly coat the chicken with oil.
Bake roughly ten minutes then turn over the cookies and bake for, approximately, six more minutes or until the cookies have turned golden. Frying both sides until golden and the meat cooked from the inside.
Air Fryer Method:
Arrange the frozen chicken nuggets in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer; depending on the size, you might have to cook in batches; lightly spray the top of the nuggets with oil, Air Fry for about 8 to 9 minutes at 400 F while flipping the nuggets half way through, and spraying the other side of the nuggets with the oil until they get golden brown and fully cooked.
Crispy Chicken Nuggets
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup frozen cauliflower rice
- 1 large egg beaten
- 1 teaspoon kosher salt you can also use Himalayan salt
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- 1 teaspoon onion powder
- 1 1/2 lbs 93% lean ground chicken organic preferred (not breast only)
- 3/4 cup seasoned breadcrumbs or gluten-free seasoned crumbs
- ketchup honey mustard, buffalo sauce, BBQ sauce, special sauce, etc., optional for dipping
Instructions
- In a large bowl add the chicken along with the cauliflower rice, salt, onion powder, garlic powder, and black pepper, stirring about. Shape into 30 round flat nuggets each of 25 grams of weight.
- Put the egg in one bowl and the breadcrumbed in the other bowl. Nuggets need to be dipped in the egg mixture, and then in the breadcrumbs and should be placed in a separate plate to rest.
Baked:
- If baking, arrange it on the baking sheet with the help of oil for greasing the sheet. then preheat the oven and then lightly coat the chicken with oil.
- Bake roughly ten minutes then turn over the cookies and bake for, approximately, six more minutes or until the cookies have turned golden. Frying both sides until golden and the meat cooked from the inside.
Air Fryer Method:
- Arrange the frozen chicken nuggets in the Air Fryer basket in a single layer; depending on the size, you might have to cook in batches; lightly spray the top of the nuggets with oil, Air Fry for about 8 to 9 minutes at 400 F while flipping the nuggets half way through, and spraying the other side of the nuggets with the oil until they get golden brown and fully cooked.
Notes
- Hidden Veggies Bonus: Incorporating frozen cauliflower rice not only boosts the nutritional value but also keeps the nuggets moist without affecting the flavor. It’s a great way to sneak in extra veggies for picky eaters!
- Customizable Coating: Feel free to experiment with different types of breadcrumbs, such as gluten-free or whole wheat, to suit dietary needs and preferences. You can also add your favorite herbs and spices to the breadcrumbs for a personalized twist.
- Batch Cooking Tip: Make a larger batch and freeze the nuggets for a quick and healthy meal option. Simply reheat in the air fryer or oven to restore their crispy texture, making them perfect for busy days or last-minute snacks.
